National Welfare Research Articles

Assessment of factors influencing suicidal thoughts and attempts among population in Mosul.

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death worldwide especially in low- middle-income areas as Mosul City. It exposed to wars and various stressors for decades that directly affecting populations' stability, psych and daily life. we aim to explore suicidal thoughts and attempts rates and their influencing risk factors. A cross-sectional study was performed among 652 individuals in Mosul along ten months period since March 2023. The questionnaire was distributed among them by using convenient sampling technique. According to PHQ-9 and ASQ, the sample was divided into three groups: normal people (396), suicidal thoughts (166), and suicidal attempts (90). Chi-square, Fishers' exact, and independent t-tests were used for significant association between variables. One quarter (25.46%) of population had suicidal thoughts and 13.8% attempted suicide. Among the risk factors were female sex, low education, low social class, big family size, sedative drug use, introverted personality, poor family and personal relationships, bullying, severe depression, and chronic diseases (p-values 0.031 - <0.001). Suicidal thoughts and attempts were present in high levels in Mosul City compared with other regions in the world. This should be addressed carefully while implanting national preventive and social welfare services.

Child welfare worker perspectives on documentation and case recording practices in Canada: A mixed-methods study protocol.

In health care and child welfare, clinical records and case notes serve multiple functions. When records are aggregated and processed to create administrative data, they can be analyzed and used to inform policy development and decision-making. To be useful, such data should be complete, accurate, and recorded in a standardized way. However, sources of bias and error can impact the quality of administrative data. During the development of national child welfare data in Canada, child welfare sector partners expressed concerns about the accuracy and completeness of data about children and families. This protocol describes a study that seeks to answer two questions: 1) What individual and institutional factors influence how client data is recorded by child welfare workers in Canada? 2) What data quality issues are created through documentation and case recording practices that may impact the use of clinical case management system data for public health statistics? In this protocol, we describe an exploratory mixed methods study that involves an online survey, interviews with a purposive sample of child welfare workers, and a document review of case recording guidelines. To be eligible for the study, participants must have worked at a child welfare agency or department with clinical documentation responsibilities as a part of their job. We will use descriptive statistics to analyze the survey data and thematic analysis to analyze the qualitative data. This study will help uncover strengths, limitations, and possible sources of bias created through case recording and documentation practices in child welfare. Study results will be shared through presentations to interest holders and will inform the further development of national child welfare data in Canada.

Challenges and Prospects of Young Women Entrepreneurs in Rural Bangladesh: A Study on Socio-Cultural Perspective

This study aims to explore the socio-cultural factors influencing young women entrepreneurs in rural Bangladesh, with a focus on uncovering both challenges and opportunities. The study seeks to create insights that align with national women and youth welfare strategies, offering actionable solutions to foster sustainable entrepreneurship. The primary objective of t5his study is to investigate the challenges faced by rural young women entrepreneurs, as well as to assess their socio-demographic status, the sources and impact of challenges, and potential opportunities. Specifically, the study examines the socio-cultural elements, supportive actors, and experiences of women entrepreneurs in rural areas, ultimately proposing policy recommendations for promoting sustainable entrepreneurship. Employing a mixed-method approach, the research integrates a survey of 500 participants from 10 villages and 20 in-depth case studies, ensuring both a broad and nuanced understanding of the issues at hand. The data reveals that 61% of respondents are married, with 42% having completed higher studies. Key challenges identified include family culture (81.6%), community values (67.4%), financial policies (90.8%), and family demotivation (91.2%) at the initial stage. Additional challenges include negative community attitudes (86.8%), security concerns (81.6%), male-dominated business environments, and limited financial support from family and institutions. Despite these barriers, the study uncovers promising prospects for women entrepreneurs, particularly in crafts and home-based industries (81.6% potential), tailoring and garment making (85.8%), and handicrafts production (81%). These sectors are seen as highly viable due to skill availability, cultural relevance, and export potential. The beauty and wellness industry are also emerging as a growing opportunity, with 81% rating it as a promising field. Supportive actors include government bodies, NGOs, microfinance institutions, and the private sector. The study concludes by urging these stakeholders, alongside development partners, to focus on addressing socio-cultural barriers to empower young women entrepreneurs in rural Bangladesh.

Optimizing Irrigation Infrastructure Management with Web-Based Technologies and OpenStreetMap Integration

Irrigation is essential for increasing agricultural productivity in Indonesia, directly impacting national food security and farmer welfare by ensuring the sustainability of irrigation systems. Despite its importance, significant challenges persist, including damage to 46% of the irrigation infrastructure across 7.1 million hectares, with responsibilities divided among central, provincial, and city governments. These challenges are compounded by issues such as inadequate information access, limitations in real-time monitoring, and poor stakeholder coordination. To address these issues, integrating technological tools such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and platforms such as OpenStreetMap (OSM) is essential. These technologies offer real-time information, facilitate land change tracking, and enable spatial mapping, which supports proactive management and planning while improving decision making through data-driven insights. The adoption of Rapid Application Development (RAD) and Decision Support Systems (DSS) further enhances the efficiency of irrigation system management. The RAD methodology ensures swift development cycles with user interaction, while DSS provides structured decision-making capabilities. This approach supports robust system design, user interface development, and geographic data visualization. In practice, efficient data collection and stakeholder participation enable the system to effectively report and track irrigation conditions, promoting public participation, and fostering long-term infrastructure sustainability. The developed online monitoring system demonstrates its effectiveness by providing interactive map features and transparent reporting platforms, verified through successful implementation of testing scenarios. This system not only improves infrastructure management in areas like Batu City, but also sets a precedent for scalable participatory irrigation solutions, creating a foundation for future enhancements.

Sosialisasi Humas Kanwil BPN Jatim Dalam Program PTSL Untuk Meningkatkan Kesadaran Masyarakat

The low level of registration and certification of land plots is one of the problems that must be addressed by Public Relations of the BPN East Java Regional Office in the PTSL program. In various regions there is a need for land and the need to improve the level of national welfare, economic and social justice. Many people don't know that this program exists. Therefore, outreach activities that provide services to people who may not have access to these services must be socialized with a variety of different strategies to increase awareness of the surrounding community. The important role of public relations is to always carry out outreach and be responsible for influencing the perception of public awareness regarding land certificate registration. The method used is descriptive qualitative, namely a data collection method using in-depth interviews. Based on the results of this research, it can be concluded that the public relations outreach used by the East Java BPN Regional Office in the PTSL program is by using social media, websites, mass media and assisted by the local Regional Office (Kanwil) to socialize in the PTSL program which is used to increase public awareness. The obstacle experienced by the BPN East Java Regional Office public relations is that there are still many people who do not understand the importance of having a land certificate, the PPh and BPHTB tax budget that must be paid. The low effectiveness of socialization means that public relations requires human resources (HR) to maximize the socialization going according to plan

Research on Financial Risk Management in the S Water Conservancy Project and Its Implications for Similar Projects

As a vital infrastructure initiative with significant impacts on national development and public welfare, water conservancy projects play an essential role in advancing agricultural development and mitigating losses caused by flooding. However, these projects often require substantial investments and extended construction periods, leading to the inevitable emergence of various financial risks during implementation. This paper aims to explore the current challenges in financial risk management of the S water conservancy project, offering practical management strategies and solutions to address these financial difficulties. Through a detailed assessment and analysis of the S water conservancy project, the study seeks to provide valuable references and insights for similar projects to better manage financial risks, ensuring their smooth progression and successful completion. The proposed control measures are designed not only to effectively mitigate the financial risks specific to the S water conservancy project but also to offer actionable lessons for other similar projects. By promoting and applying these measures, the overall financial management capabilities of the industry can be enhanced, providing robust support for the sustainable development of water conservancy projects.

Urbanization exacerbates disparities in exposure to air pollution in China.

Prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with harmful impacts on human health and population growth in urban areas has exacerbated this exposure. In this study, we compare the exposure between cities at a national level and between different regions within cities considering the population in situ. We estimate the impacts of pollution and population on exposure by spatial and time series analysis from 2000 to 2018 based on 1-km grid data. Our results show that the exposure significantly increases with an increase in city size but is not necessarily related to higher PM2.5 concentrations. Notably, nonurban areas within most prefecture cities have a higher exposure than urban areas. The exposure follows an inverted U-shaped pattern over time across all cities, which are at varying stages within this trend. Nationally, it grows by 0.9 billion person-levels/year during the increasing stage and reduces by 1.0 billion person-levels/year during the decreasing stage. For urban areas, population growth is the dominant factor that determines the exposure during the increasing phase, while changes in air pollution dominate during the decreasing phase. In nonurban areas, however, the change in air pollution plays a more decisive role during both stages. Understanding the spatial distribution and the driving process of exposure provided directions for the country and each prefecture city to balance the benefits of air pollution control, mitigation costs, addressing disparities, and increasing national welfare.

Impact of state capacity on entrepreneurship: does national developmental and technological level matter?

PurposeThe current study empirically examines the influence of state capacity on entrepreneurship.Design/methodology/approachThis research draws upon the national measures of 118 countries and employs a more robust measure of state capacity.FindingsThe findings show a positive correlation between state capacity and entrepreneurship. However, the results reveal that the effect of state capacity on entrepreneurship is stronger in developing low-technology nations compared to developed high-technology nations.Research limitations/implicationsWhen available, future research could employ more recent data to estimate the effects of state capacity on entrepreneurship. In addition to developmental and technological levels, various other factors can also be explored such as national culture and welfare regime type.Practical implicationsThe current study enables policymakers to identify factors critical in developing state capacity. Policymakers can also have better-tailored approaches for developing targeted initiatives and establishing entrepreneurship-supportive regulative institutional arrangements.Originality/valueAvailable literature lacks in empirically examining the influence of state capacity on entrepreneurship. The current study attempts to fill this gap.

Nilai-Nilai Hukum Laut Amanna Gappa Dalam United Nations Convention On The Law Of The Sea (UNCLOS)

Amanna Gappa is the third Matoa of Wajo. He formulated a maritime law known as Amanna Gappa, which was enacted in 1676. This law discusses the rules for trading and sailing during that time. Three hundred years later, a modern maritime law was established, known as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The research method used is qualitative research utilizing secondary data through literature studies such as documents, articles, reports, scientific journals, and internet sites. The collected data is then analyzed to produce descriptive information presented by the author in the form of sentences and words that support explanations related to the research.The laws within Amanna Gappa's maritime law consist of 21 articles and cover various matters, both technical and non-technical. It outlines efforts to achieve welfare on board ships, detailing the rights and obligations of everyone involved. This is quite similar to UNCLOS; however, its orientation is more towards the state, focusing on how UNCLOS seeks to regulate national welfare at sea. The values that continue to be upheld in current maritime law emphasize that regulations should be made as much as possible for the sake of welfare and justice. Moreover, both ancient and contemporary maritime laws prioritize common interests through deliberation in establishing these rules.

Assessing the economic impact of obesity and overweight on employers: identifying opportunities to improve work force health and well-being

Background and objectivesObesity is a major public health issue, significantly affecting national and individual health and economic well-being. This study quantifies the economic impact of excess body weight on employers and employees in 2023, offering insights for obesity prevention and treatment.MethodsWe utilized data from the National Health Interview Survey, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, and Current Population Survey. Published reports and original estimates were combined to assess the economic burden for the U.S. and across seven major industries (Construction, Education & Health, Financial Activities, Government, Manufacturing, Professional & Business Services, and Transportation & Utilities). We compared the economic outcomes for adults with obesity and overweight to those with healthy weight, focusing on direct and indirect costs. Potential savings from different weight loss scenarios were estimated using the Disease Prevention & Treatment Microsimulation Model.ResultsIn 2023, among 158 million civilian employees on nonfarm payrolls, 30% had obesity and 34% had overweight, resulting in a combined economic burden of $425.5 billion (obesity: $347.5 billion; overweight: $78 billion). This includes excess medical costs of obesity ($115 billion), presenteeism (obesity: $113.8 billion; overweight: $46.5 billion), absenteeism from obesity ($82.3 billion), excess medical costs of overweight ($31.5 billion), obesity-related disability payments ($31.1 billion), and workers’ compensation payments ($5.2 billion). For a hypothetical firm with 10,000 employees (plus dependents), the annual costs were $22 million for obesity and $4.9 million for overweight, with average costs of $6472 per employee with obesity, $1244 per employee with overweight, $1514 per adult dependent with obesity, and $380 per adult dependent with overweight. Medical savings over 5 years range from $153.3 billion with a 5% weight loss to $326.1 billion with 25% weight loss at the industry level.ConclusionThe substantial economic costs imposed by obesity and overweight on employers and employees highlight the need for resources dedicated to treatment and prevention, which can result in reduced medical expenses and improved productivity.

National eco-social policies in the framework of EU just transition: The cases of Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain

This article examines two questions. First, how far have the green and social policy objectives of the European Green Deal and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) been translated into ‘eco-social policies’ (i.e. demonstrate a ‘socio-ecological’ dimension) in the National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs) of four of the biggest beneficiary countries, namely, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain? And, second, how is the role of national welfare states articulated in these eco-social policies to support this just green transition? Our analysis shows first, that, although the analysed NRRPs have a socio-ecological dimension, this is very limited in terms of the share of ‘eco-social’ measures in the total number of policy measures in the NRRPs. Moreover, we find that the role of national welfare states in the identified eco-social policies of the NRRPs in the four country-cases we examine is significantly tilted in favour of what we call ‘benchmarking’ and ‘enabling’ functions, in contrast to what we call ‘buffering’ and ‘consensus-building’ functions. In that sense, the socio-ecological dimension of these national plans seems ‘unbalanced’ in terms of the functions that national welfare states play in it. The article concludes with some reflections on the implications of these findings for the role of EU policy legacies and frameworks and of national welfare states in shaping the emergence of eco-social policies as means to a just green transition and on some methodological challenges for the study of eco-social policies in the context of the European Green Deal and its implementation.

Toward an Intersectional Analysis of Money: Racial Capitalism, Stagflation, and Unemployment as Economic Policy

Abstract: This essay details the economic austerity of the 1970s during the era of stagflation and monetary instability. It describes the role of racism, patriarchy, and other social systems of difference in these policy choices, and thus argues that an intersectional analysis is critical to understanding the fabrication of money. As the US dollar transitioned fully off the gold standard, policymakers tolerated significant unemployment as they sought to manage inflation. The unemployment and economic violence of this era was widespread, but not evenly shared. Instead, policymakers constructed monetary stability and faith in fiat currency on the backs of the most vulnerable. However, grassroots movements, such as Coretta Scott King’s Full Employment Action Council and the National Welfare Rights Organization, pushed for alternative solutions to both inflation and wagelessness. By outlining these contests, I suggest that although violence has been intertwined with the history of money, critical analyses of money also reveal shared interdependencies across the world.

Charting a National Path for Well-Being Through Healthy People 2030.

The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) at the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) oversees Healthy People 2030, the nation's decennial health promotion and disease prevention framework and plan, which sets national goals and identifies science-based measurable objectives with targets to evaluate efforts to improve health and well-being. With science recognizing the relationship between health and well-being, Healthy People 2030 is broadening its understanding of national-level well-being by gathering new data for and coordinating across the federal government on well-being. The addition of well-being in Healthy People 2030 elevates well-being as a national priority and creates opportunities for the well-being of the nation to be assessed, disparities to be identified, and collaborative efforts to be coordinated to support a society in which all people can achieve their full potential for health and well-being. This article discusses the inclusion of well-being to Healthy People 2030, details the approach and rationale for the selection of the national well-being metrics, and articulates opportunities for improving population-level well-being and federal collaboration.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

The agricultural and allied sectors of many countries have experienced the impacts of climate change in one way or the other. This study highlights the impacts of climate change on agriculture, water resources, health, and economy of sub-Sahara African countries. The study reveals its significant threats to gross domestic product (GDP) and economic sustainability at the national level, and livelihoods, food security, and well-being of citizens at individual level. The study explored research reports on adaptation, mitigation, and integrated approaches to solving climate change issues. Meta AI was found useful in generating data for the study. Though climate change is a global issue, impacts on the countries of the global north are quite different from those of the global south, with impacts being more severe in sub-Sahara Africa. GDP, GDP/capital, contribution of agriculture to GDP, and water availability will decline while numbers of people living below poverty line, people displaced and occasions of deceases will increase due to climate change. Policy and practice interventions with consideration for local factors are recommended to enhance adaptation capacity, promote sustainable development, and support climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. This study provides policy insight to the growing discussions on climate change issues globally, especially as it focuses on how its impacts alter the economic situations and daily expectations of the already indigent farmers in the countries of the global south. These countries contribute very little to causation of climate change, yet are at the receiving end of the impacts with extremely high Climate Change Vulnerability Index values recorded.

Challenging the role of resilience and vulnerability in narratives of well-being

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was significant emphasis on building resilience to address the vulnerability felt at both individual and collective levels. This focus on resilience was critiqued by scholars who saw the discourse as stemming from neoliberal governance. In this paper, we critique the political roots of neoliberalism, particularly the ideal liberal state citizen, the autonomous individual who views reliance on others as vulnerability. We use the concept of relational autonomy, which has influenced fields like bioethics and health studies, to explore how vulnerability relates to interpersonal, social, and political dimensions of autonomy. We propose a typology where vulnerability can emerge as positive or self-affirming, or negative, as self-undermining, circumstantial, and/or pathogenic. The latter forms require significant political engagement to address the conditions that foster it. We apply this typology to two related case studies: Australia’s National Mental Health and Wellbeing Pandemic Response Plan and the Victorian State Government’s lockdown of public housing towers in inner Melbourne. These case studies reveal how vulnerability can be used as a tool of governmental control within resilience discourse, risking circumstantial and pathogenic vulnerability due to state securitization of protection. We conclude by proposing a reframing of vulnerability within a relational autonomy framework of well-being, emphasizing care for interpersonal relationships and care as a public practice to enhance democratic participation in pursuing health and social good.

Relational and cultural continuity for children in foster care; A critical exploration of national policies in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, England, Ireland and Scotland

Based on an analysis of 14 national child welfare policies, the paper explores how relational and cultural continuity are framed in national foster care policies in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, England, Ireland and Scotland, particularly focusing on the implications for children with migrant backgrounds. While most policies tend to recognise the significance of the child’s cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic background, most appear to lack specific guidance of how to ensure relational and cultural continuity of children when placed in foster care. Overall, we find little specific reference to circumstances of children with migrant backgrounds in the policies. The paper critically discusses four patterns. The first is the policies’ emphasis on relational continuity of children’s adult relationships over peer relationships. Secondly, there seems to be a strong emphasis on the significance of parental contact, with much less attention to contact with family members like siblings, grandparents and other relatives. With one exception, we observe no reference to transnational family relationships. Thirdly, with little attention to cultural variations, the policies appear to presuppose that everyone share the norms and values of the Western and dominant culture. The last pattern points to an apparent dilemma or a difficult balance between attending to the child’s immediate care and safety needs simultaneously as cultural and relational continuity are promoted.

(Invited) Innovation in Electrochemical Systems: Recent NSF Trends, Investments and Research Opportunities

NSF is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense..." With an annual budget of about $9.06 billion (FY 2024), we are the funding source for approximately 24 percent of all federally supported basic research conducted by America's colleges and universities. In many fields such as mathematics, computer science and the social sciences, NSF is the major source of federal support. This talk will highlight recent research investments by NSF’s Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET) in innovative fundamental research supporting electrochemical systems for industrial decarbonization, energy storage, net zero fuels, and environmental clean-up applications. Funding opportunities will also be highlighted for fundamental and translational research projects of interest to the PRiME research communities.

Development of the post-traumatic stress disorder assessment scale for emergency services

This paper describes the development and validation of the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Assessment Scale for Emergency Services (PASES). The PASES was developed to address the needs of Australia’s first National Mental Health and Wellbeing Study of Police and Emergency Services, Answering the Call (AtC) which covered Police, Ambulance, Fire and Rescue and State Emergency Services personnel. PASES offers several advantages for use in the emergency services sector over other Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) screening scales, including assessment of functional impairment, a dimensional measure of severity which includes identification of sub-threshold cases experiencing distress and impairment, and allowing for experience of cumulative trauma. Analysis of Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) data from a large national sample identified PTSD symptoms that usually co-occur allowing streamlining of the scale with minimal information loss. In a large sample, PASES had high specificity and adequate sensitivity in comparison to self-reported PTSD diagnosis. Data from AtC supported there being a strong dimensional gradient in distress and associated harms, including suicidal behaviors, across the levels of severity of the PASES. In a subsample of 191 fire sector employees who completed both PASES and PCL-5, both scales had equivalent discrimination compared with self-reported diagnosis of PTSD by a mental health professional. The paper also presents population data for Australian volunteer and employed emergency services personnel collected in AtC.

Differences in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Between U.S. Civilians and Military Veterans in the Gulf War and Post-9/11 War Eligibility Cohorts: A Research Note

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among military veterans who experienced combat compared with those who did not. However, it is unknown how PTSD rates differ between veterans and nonveterans when accounting for combat status. We used a sample of 10,880 participants from the 2021 and 2022 National Wellbeing Survey—national annual cross-sectional surveys of U.S. adults aged 18 to 64—to assess relationships between military veteran-combat status and PTSD diagnosis among two war eligibility cohorts: the Gulf War and post-9/11 conflicts. We found that among both war eligibility cohorts, combat veterans were more likely than nonveterans to report a PTSD diagnosis: 3.42 times greater probability in the Gulf War eligibility cohort and 4.87 times greater probability in the post 9/11 cohort. Noncombat veterans had greater probability of PTSD (odds ratio [ OR] = 1.63) than nonveterans only in the post 9/11 cohort. These results underscore the importance of ensuring proper mental health care for combat veterans.

Why train? Compatible and incompatible institutional logics in violence prevention and management training

A critical component of ensuring safe workplaces is training in preventing and managing violent behavior. This article examines the institutional logics underpinning such training programs, investigating their design, rationale, and impact on everyday practices within human services. Despite extensive research on the content, effects, and experiences of these training programs, there is a notable gap in understanding the rationale behind their development. This study aims to fill this gap by exploring why violence prevention and management training is structured as it is and how institutional logics affect training and practice. This research identifies seven institutional logics that shape these programs through an in-depth qualitative analysis of three Norwegian human service training programs – encompassing mental health care, child welfare services, and Norway’s national welfare agency. Some of the logics are complementary. Others are incompatible, leading to significant practical implications. Data collection included qualitative document analysis and interviews with representatives from the training communities. The study contributes to a better understanding of the factors influencing the training program design and influence, not the least, by underscoring their duality as measures of improving service delivery and ensuring safe working conditions.